Shahrzad from Iran 

Despite her young age and gender, Shahrzad had travelled around the world by herself, writing articles and guidebooks, and arranging trips for others. During her stay at a folk high school in Helsingør, she decided to seek asylum in Denmark; her critical activities against the Iranian regime had begun to pose a serious danger if she returned to her home country.
 
Shahrzad wrote an email to Refugees Welcome, marking the beginning of extended correspondence between her and the organisation's leader, Michala, during her many months of waiting. Although she was lucky enough to be allowed to stay at the folk high school and did not have to live in an asylum centre, she was very concerned about the interviews she had to go to at the Danish Immigration Service and her future in general.
 
Michala assured her that her case was strong if she explained it clearly to the case worker and that the long period of waiting was normal.

As expected, she was granted asylum in the summer of 2024. She wrote a touching thank-you note and brought flowers for Michala. However, because she had been allowed to stay at the folk high school, she did not receive help from her new municipality to find housing – she already had ‘an address’. This was something she had not been told about, and it also came as a surprise to us at Refugees Welcome.
 
Fortunately, she was allowed to keep her room at the school for a few months while she attended language school, but it was not easy for her to find accommodation before getting a job.